New German Railcars.

Branch-line operation on many European railways only continues a profitable proposition by the employment of light railcars in place of heavy steam units. Germany is one of the greatest users of the railcar, and interesting new types of both oil-electric and steam railcars have been recently introduced by the Berlin authorities.

The new oil-electric railcar seats 110 passengers, and has an overall length of 69 ft. 2 ¼ in. Its weight in working order is 42 tons, and maximum speed is 62 m.p.h. In accordance with modern practice, the rail-car is of very light welded construction. The Diesel engine has a capacity of from 300 to 330 h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m., and transmission is of the electrical type. A driver's cab is placed at each end of the car, and the construction is such that the car may be employed by itself as a complete unit, or in conjunction with a trailer of equal dimensions.

The new German steam railcar is a smaller affair, seating 42 passengers, and developing a maximum speed of 40 m.p.h. It is a four-wheeled car, with an empty weight of only 14 ½ tons. Steam is furnished by an oil-fired boiler, and the engine, developing 100 h.p.,

London, Midland and Scottish Express Goods Train.

is axle-suspended, power being transmitted to the wheels by a single set of spur gears. It is claimed that the car may be started from cold in about five minutes, and altogether this new light steam railcar is worthy of study by those on the look-out for a cheap and efficient train unit for branch-line operation.